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HB0157 • 2025

Proof of voter citizenship.

AN ACT relating to elections; requiring proof of United States citizenship to register to vote as specified; providing a definition of "proof of United States citizenship"; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

Elections
Did Not Pass

The latest official action shows that this bill did not move forward in that session.

Sponsor
Representative Bear
Last action
2025-02-28
Official status
inactive
Effective date
3/1/2025

Plain English Breakdown

The bill's status as 'Did Not Pass' means that the effective date of July 1, 2025, is no longer applicable.

Proof of Voter Citizenship

The bill requires people to show proof they are U.S. citizens when registering to vote in Wyoming.

What This Bill Does

  • Requires voters to provide proof of United States citizenship when registering to vote.
  • Defines what counts as acceptable proof of citizenship, such as a driver's license or passport.
  • Updates voter registration forms and processes to include the requirement for proof of citizenship.

Who It Names or Affects

  • People who want to register to vote in Wyoming
  • County clerks responsible for managing voter registrations

Terms To Know

Proof of United States citizenship
Documents like a driver's license, passport, or birth certificate that show someone is a U.S. citizen.

Limits and Unknowns

  • The bill did not pass and was not considered for introduction in the Senate.
  • There are no details about how existing voters without proof of citizenship would be affected.

Amendments

These notes stay tied to the official amendment files and metadata from the legislature.

HB0157H2001

2nd reading • Representative Bear

Corrected, Adopted

Plain English: The amendment changes how proof of citizenship is verified for voter registration by specifying that a driver’s license or ID card used as proof must clearly show U.S. citizenship.

  • Removes the phrase 'that indicates the' from the original bill text.
  • Adds new language requiring that any driver's license or identification card used to prove citizenship must not include any indication that the person is not a United States citizen.
  • The amendment does not specify what constitutes an 'indication that the person is not a United States citizen.'
HB0157H2002

2nd reading • Representative Jarvis

Withdrawn

Plain English: The amendment changes the term 'Indian' to 'Native American' in a bill about voter registration requirements.

  • Replaces the word 'Indian' with 'Native American' in the relevant section of the bill.
  • This amendment does not provide additional context on how this change affects other parts of the bill or its overall impact.
HB0157HW001

Committee of the Whole • Representative Yin

Withdrawn

Plain English: The amendment adds new rules about when existing voters need to show proof of citizenship before voting.

  • Adds a new section that says registered voters must provide proof of U.S. citizenship before casting their ballot in the next primary or general election after this act takes effect.
  • Changes 'Section 2' to 'Section 3' where it appears on page 6, line 18.
  • The amendment does not explain what kind of proof is acceptable for existing voters.

Bill History

  1. 2025-02-28 Senate

    S Did not Consider for Introduction

  2. 2025-01-20 Senate

    S Received for Introduction

  3. 2025-01-20 House

    H 3rd Reading:Passed 53-6-3-0-0

  4. 2025-01-17 House

    H 2nd Reading:Passed

  5. 2025-01-16 House

    H COW:Passed

  6. 2025-01-16 House

    H Placed on General File

  7. 2025-01-16 House

    H07 - Corporations:Recommend Do Pass 9-0-0-0-0

  8. 2025-01-14 House

    H Introduced and Referred to H07 - Corporations

  9. 2025-01-14 House

    H Received for Introduction

  10. 2025-01-13 LSO

    Bill Number Assigned

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text
25LSO-0627
2025
STATE OF WYOMING
25LSO-0627
ENGROSSED
3.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0157

Proof of voter citizenship.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Bear, Andrew, Angelos, Banks, Brady, Bratten, Brown, G, Campbell, K, Clouston, Geringer, Guggenmos, Hoeft, Johnson, Knapp, Lawley, Locke, Lucas, McCann, Pendergraft, Singh, Smith, S, Webb, Webber and Winter and Senator(s) Boner, Pearson, Smith, D and Steinmetz

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to elections; requiring proof of United States citizenship to register to vote as specified; providing a definition of "proof of United States citizenship"; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1.

W.S. 22
‑
1
‑
102(a)(xxvii) and by creating a new paragraph (lv), 22
‑
3
‑
102(a)(i), 22
‑
3
‑
103(a) by creating a new paragraph (ix), 22
‑
3
‑
117(a)(intro) and 22
‑
3
‑
118(a)(ii) are amended to read:

22
‑
1
‑
102.

Definitions.

(a)

The definitions contained in this chapter apply to words and phrases used in this Election Code and govern the construction of those words and phrases unless they are specifically modified by the context in which they appear. As used in this Election Code:

(xxvii)

"Registration" is the entry and verification of the name
, citizenship
and voter information of a qualified elector on the official registry list, as provided in W.S. 22
‑
3
‑
104(f) and 22
‑
3
‑
108;

(lv)

"Proof of United States citizenship" means, for purposes of voter registration, any of the following:

(A)

A valid Wyoming driver's license as defined by W.S. 31
‑
7
‑
102(a)(xxv) or Wyoming identification card issued under W.S. 31
‑
8
‑
101, provided that the license or identification card does not contain any indication that the person is not a United States citizen;

(B)

A valid tribal identification card issued by the governing body of the Eastern Shoshone tribe of Wyoming, the Northern Arapaho tribe of Wyoming or other federally recognized Indian tribe, provided that the identification card does not contain any indication that the person is not a United States citizen;

(C)

A valid driver's license or identification card issued by any other state that is consistent with the requirements of the REAL ID Act as defined by W.S. 31
‑
7
‑
102(a)(lii) provided that the driver's license or identification card does not include any indication that the person is not a United States citizen;

(D)

A valid United States passport;

(E)

A certificate of United States citizenship;

(F)

A certificate of naturalization;

(G)

A United States military draft record or a selective service registration acknowledgment card;

(H)

A consular report of birth abroad issued by the United States department of state;

(J)

An original or certified copy of a birth certificate in the United States bearing an official seal.

22
‑
3
‑
102.

Qualifications; temporary registration.

(a)

A person may register to vote not less than fourteen (14) days before an election, at any election specified in W.S. 22
‑
2
‑
101(a)(i) through (viii) or as provided by W.S. 22
‑
3
‑
117, who satisfies the following qualifications:

(i)

He is a citizen of the United States
, as evidenced by providing proof of United States citizenship as defined by W.S. 22
‑
1
‑
102(a)(lv)
;

22
‑
3
‑
103.

Furnishing of oath forms; contents thereof.

(a)

The county clerk shall furnish voter registration oath forms to registry agents which forms shall require the following voter information from the applicant:

(ix)

Proof of United States citizenship as defined by W.S. 22
‑
1
‑
102(a)(lv).

22
‑
3
‑
117.

Absentee registration generally; use of federal postcard.

(a)

Notwithstanding any other section or provision in this chapter, any citizen of the United States who is a resident of Wyoming may apply for registration by providing the information required by W.S. 22
‑
3
‑
103(a)
, proof of United States citizenship
and acceptable identification to
the county clerk
and
by
completing and subscribing
,
the form of voter registration oath prescribed by W.S. 22
‑
3
‑
103(b) before any person authorized by law to administer oaths. Each county clerk shall furnish the voter registration oath forms.

The applicant shall mail or return the completed voter registration oath form to the county clerk in the county in which the applicant resides.

In order to vote in the next election, the application must be received in the county clerk's office before the close of registration for that election, or:

22
‑
3
‑
118.

Proof of identity.

(a)

Unless a voter is challenged pursuant to W.S. 22
‑
15
‑
101 through 22
‑
15
‑
109, and except as provided in W.S. 22
‑
9
‑
104(a)(vi) for an absentee ballot obtained in person by the elector, no identification shall be required when:

(ii)

Voting by absentee ballot after having registered by mail and having submitted a copy of the person's acceptable identification, as set forth in W.S. 22
‑
1
‑
102(a)(xxxix)(A),
and proof of United States citizenship as defined by W.S. 22
‑
1
‑
102(a)(lv),
at the time of registration.

Section 2
.

This act is effective July 1, 2025
.

(END)

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HB0157